Newsletter

Principal's Report 

Tim Hogan

Refugee Week:

As we raise awareness of refugee week we highlight the following statistics from the United Nations that point out that around the world there are 82.4 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their home. Of these, around 48 million were displaced within their own country (internally displaced), while 26.4 million are refugees.

 

The following top five countries of origin make up 68% of refugees worldwide:

• Syria, with 6.7 million

• Venezuela, with 4 million

• Afghanistan, with 2.6 million

• South Sudan, with 2.2 million

• Myanmar, with 1.1 million

 

For many decades, Australia has been a leader in bringing some of the most vulnerable refugees in the world from overseas and supporting them to settle in Australia. Australia’s contribution is important, as relatively few countries resettle refugees. 

This commitment is even more valuable today when it is harder than ever for refugees to find protection in a safe country. 

 

Australians can be proud of the value of the 'fair go for all' which is reflected in being a country of welcome to many cultures from around the world.

 

We are very of proud of our multi-cultural heritage at St John's and we are home to many cultures and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. As part of raising awareness of the challenges refugees face, a special morning tea was held during the week in the CLC.  

 

At these gatherings students were able to hear from Staff members Milan Colic and Achok Bieth about their own personal and family experience of coming from another country with very little and facing the challenge of maintaining identity while fitting in to a new culture.

 

I thank Milan and Achok for their generous sharing with our students and to staff members Ms Nievas and Ms Pinto for hosting this event.

Make a Difference Day:

 (MAD Day) June 23

Due to the inclement weather today, our annual MAD Day Walk has been rescheduled to next term. The fundraising for the Lasallian School in Pakistan and our local Wellsprings Centre for Women in Dandenong will continue into next term and families wishing to support these two needy causes can contribute at the following link :  https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/sjrcmadday

 

Reports:

Reports will arrive home in the first week of the school holidays via the SEQTA Engage App giving a summary of student progress over the first semester. I thank our staff for their work in preparing this important feedback and recommendations for the next stages of learning for our students. These reports are most valuable when time is set aside over the school holidays to discuss the recommendations and identify strategies for improving student learning in Semester Two. Without these goals and the actions that students need to put in place for Semester Two things will remain the same. We will provide support for our students on this journey of improvement, however, the refection and effort must start with them and the school holidays are a good time to start.

Student Scholarships:

Applications for St John’s Regional College Scholarships for General Excellence will open in the first week of Term 3.  General Excellence Scholarships are awarded based on the following criteria: Academic Achievement, Community Involvement, Extra-Curricular involvement, Teacher Reference and Letter of application.

 

For next year, the 2024 school year, the following Student scholarships will be awarded at St John’s Regional College:

  • Year 7 (2023) into Year 8 (2024) 4 Half Scholarships
  • Year 8 (2023) into Year 9 (2024) 4 Half Scholarships
  • Year 10 (2023) into Year 11(2024) 4 Half Scholarships

 

The application forms will be available on SEQTA and from Student Services from the beginning of Term 3 and applications are to be submitted by Friday 25 August to Student Services.

 

Students already in receipt of a Student Scholarship at St John’s are not able to make application for a General Excellence Scholarship. Students will be notified of their successful application or otherwise in the last week of Term 3.

SIS Champions:

I congratulate our champion teams from Term 2 in the Southern Independent Schools Association. Our boys were undefeated in the intermediate SIS Volleyball competition for the third year in a row and our SIS Soccer team pictured below also took home the SIS Pennant in Term 2. I congratulate both teams and their coaches Mr Mark Alexander (Volleyball) and Mr Swan (Soccer).

VRQA and School Review Update:

Mr David Allibon and Mr Blair Cooper, from the National Curriculum Service, conducted our review for the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) over the last two weeks.

 

The reviewers took feedback from all stakeholders to evaluate our progress against the four-year School Improvement Plan and will return in early Term 3 to provide commendations and recommendations for the next four-year School improvement plan 2024-2027 which will be developed in Terms 3 and 4    of this year.

Supporting MND:

In honour and support of former staff member, Ms Carolina Laing, who is battling MND our staff gather each year to don the Big Freeze beanies made famous by Neale Daniher’s extraordinary and inspiring campaign to find a cure for this disease. On average 470 people in Victoria are diagnosed with MND each year and if you would like to make a donation to support this cause to find a cure you can follow this link to https://fightmnd.org.au/  

 

Staffing:

We send our best wishes to staff member Ms Lynn Cemeljic who leaves St John’s at the end of the semester to begin a new role at Box Hill Secondary College. Ms Cemeljic has been a valued member of the English Team and Delphinus House. Mr Roland Clements will replace Ms Cemeljic for the rest of 2023.

 

I also advise that the following staff members will be on long service leave during Term 3:

  • Ms Jacinta Ashby for all of Term 3 and will be replaced by Ms Catherine Migliore.
  • Ms Janine Bingham for Week 1 of Term 3
  • Ms Melissah Jeffree for the first four weeks of Term 3 and will be replaced by Miss Sheratein Taukapo (Food Studies) and Mr Aaron Bailey (Textiles).
  • Mrs Amanda Gengaroli for the first five weeks of Term 3 and will be replaced by Mr Greg Barker, Miss Tegan Yates, Mr Nigel Adkin and Mr Nathan Yap.
  • Mr Thiik Giir for the first four weeks of Term 3 and will be replaced by Ms Michele Trusler.

End of Term

I thank all staff and students for the sustained effort they have put into their work and study this term. The holidays come at a good time to recharge with family and friends and, fingers crossed, for some slightly warmer weather than the last few days. 

 

I wish all of our families a safe and happy holiday and look forward to our students returning for the beginning of Term 3.